No joke. It’s a marriage of Macbeth and Star Wars, complete with light sabers and Jedi robes. It stays true to the spirit of the original Shakespeare play, but reimagined a long, long time in a galaxy far, far away.

“Geeks love ‘Star Wars,’ and Shakespeare is universal,” says Mike Sheldon, production coordinator and instructor of theatre and dance at Alma.

“The Shakespeare-‘Star Wars’ integration works great.”

The show has run in Chicago for two years and has been performed at Comic-Con, the annual pop culture extravaganza in San Diego.

Tickets are $10 for adults and free for Alma students.

It’s unconventional, but it’s a nifty way to make Shakespeare more accessible to younger audiences and highlight that good stories — no matter if they’re set in space or Scotland — have time-honored messages and lessons that apply to everyone.

College is best when you’re both thrilled and a little scared. When you’re soaking in so much new experiences, pushing limits and challenging everything you thought you knew.

It’s a sensation that can come in classroom lectures during eureka moments. And it’s one that happens regularly during study abroad semesters, when classroom teachings are put into action and new paths are forged.

Few colleges give students more of an opportunity to explore the world — and themselves — than Hope College. The Michigan college recently was named in the top 40 nationwide for the number of students who studied abroad during the 2013-2014 school year, according to a report from the Institute of International Education.

What’s impressive is Hope ranked alongside much bigger schools, some of which have 10 times the enrollment as the 3,300 for Hope.

That speaks to the college’s commitment to allowing students to see the world.

“At Hope we recognize the value of study abroad as a fundamental part of an education, especially as we emphasize preparing students for lives of leadership and service in a global society,” said Amy Otis-DeGrau, director of international education at Hope.

“Off-campus study, and study abroad in particular, is an important way of providing students with an opportunity to engage with another culture and society, and to learn something about who they are as Americans,”

Hope students have access to more than 200 off-campus study programs in every continent except Antarctica. The studies study for a semester or a year at more than 60 countries, from Bolivia to Uganda.

“Studying abroad was the more valuable experience of my college career,” said Daniel Schriemer, a 2013 Hope graduate.

“During my time in the Dominican Republic, I encountered an unfamiliar place, culture, and people. But my new experiences also helped me gain a new perspective on myself. I came home with an elevated sense of confidence in my abilities, a broadened worldview, and a greater understanding of my place in the world.”

Calvin College calls it the January Series and for 29 years, it’s brought some of the world’s most critical thinkers to the Grand Rapids school.

For 15 days, starting this week, international experts will come to the college to discuss ideas big and small, topics that shape the world, from global health and autism to foreign affairs and cyber security. Speakers include New York Times columnist David Brooks, counterintelligence expert Eric O’Beill and Bethany Williams, a psychologist who specializes in healing children traumatized by war.

“At Calvin, we teach students to think deeply, to live wholeheartedly and to live into justice. That’s exactly what we do through the January Series, too,” says Kristi Potter, director of the January Series.

“As we listen to the wide range of speakers each year we are challenged to wonder and think courageously and sometimes that also means we are stretched in new ways.”

The free speeches are held every weekday at 12:30 p.m. on campus until Jan. 29. And they’re webcast and shown on large screens in 45 libraries, schools and churches throughout the United States, Canada and Lithuania.

Last year, they reached some 40,000 people, and its reach is expected to grow again as the award-winning event continues to evolve and add more diverse speakers.

This year, for instance, Calvin’s auditorium will be converted into a giant harp by William Close. He’s a finalist for “America’s Got Talent,” who plans to extend strings to the back of the auditorium — over the heads of the audience — when he performs Jan. 19.

It’s an unusual performance for an extraordinary event — one that combines passion, a thirst for knowledge, love of community and commitment to improve the world.

They emphasize community over crowds and a spirit of togetherness and cohesion that is truly unique. Their world-renowned faculty forge tight bonds with students, helping them maximize potential and chart their own paths.

Often less expensive than public institutions, the independents boast higher four-year graduation rates for a truly unique and affordable experience.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE AMOUNT YOU PAY AT Michigan's top independent colleges and universities COULD BE LESS THAN WHAT YOU’D PAY AT A PUBLIC INSTITUTION?

Michigan's top independent colleges and universities are more affordable than you think. Actual costs are comparable to public institutions.

More students receive financial aid, on average, at Michigan's top independent colleges and universities than public ones.

Graduation rates at Michigan's top independent colleges and universities are double those of public universities.

The average class size at Michigan's top independent colleges and universities is just 17.5 students. Compare that to the massive lecture halls of the big public universities. Choose community over crowds.

At Michigan's top independent colleges and universities, you'll learn from professors. Not the TAs you’ll often find leading classes at big public institutions.

Community is the culture at Michigan's top independent colleges and universities. Classes are tight knit. Students and faculty forge lifelong relationships.

The alumni network is bar none at Michigan's top independent colleges and universities. They’re engaged and invested in you.

Diversity is cherished. The demographic makeup of students at Michigan's top independent colleges and universities mirrors that of the state.